104-yr-old woman who sold her goats to build toilets, PM touches feet

104-year-old woman from a village in Chhattisgarh’s Dhamtari district who sold her goats for constructing toilets at her home, came in for special praise on Sunday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said it is a big sign of changing India.

Modi felicitated Kunwar Bai from Kotabharri village of Dhamtari for her efforts to make her village open defecation free, during the launch of ‘Rurban Mission’ at Kurrubhat village in the state’s Naxal-hit Rajandgaon district on Sunday.

Two development blocks – Ambagarh Chowki and Chhuriya – of Rajnandgaon were also declared open defecation free by the PM during the programme.

“An elderly woman of 104 years who stays in a remote village, does not watch TV or read papers, but the message of building toilets under clean India mission somehow reached her. She sold off her goats to build toilet at home and also encouraged others from the village to build,” Modi said.

Kunwar Bai had sold-off her 8-10 goats to build two toilets at her home.

Subsequently, she started showing other villagers the toilets at her home while informing them about its importance. Now every home in the village has toilets.

Calling it as a major change taking place at the roots of the country, Modi said, “The country is changing. It seems when a woman at a remote village makes efforts to fulfil dream of clean India mission, she is an inspiration for everyone, especially youths.”

“I would like to tell media that you don’t cover me but spread the story of this woman all over the country,” the PM urged.

Modi also praised the residents of two Ambagarh Chowki and Chhuriya blocks for being open defecation free with toilets at all homes.

“Even a Prime Minister has to think before enforcing taxes (on public), but people in these blocks without hesitation decided to slap fine on those who defecated in open which is a good initiative for the welfare of society,” he said.